Pop Therapy (Formerly The Curious Life Podcast)

with Jana Firestone

Pop Therapy (formerly The Curious Life Podcast) is where therapist, bestselling author and unapologetic pop-culture obsessive Jana Firestone dissects the worlds we binge. From Bravo scandals, celebrity culture to streaming sensations and the fandoms that fuel them. With a clinical lens and a die-hard viewer’s heart, Jana unpacks the psychology of conflict, fame, friendship fractures, redemption arcs and the storylines we can’t stop analysing, alongside candid conversations with the people living inside the pop-culture machine. Smart, incisive and highly entertaining.

  1. 1 day ago

    Brian's Lying, Jo-Ellen's Firing and Rulla's Denying: RHORI Reunion Recap and Love Island USA Heat

    The RHORI reunion is here, and so is our final recap of the season with Dana Regan, The Bravo Investigator. We're unpacking Brian the lying weasel, Rulla's unwavering denial, Jo-Ellen's mountain of receipts, and the rumours swirling around Liz McGraw's future. Plus, we get to the real root of the Rosie and Kelsey fallout and give our verdict on a wildly entertaining debut season. Then it's off to the Villa for all the latest Love Island USA chaos, bombshells and behind-the-scenes buzz. You can find Dana at: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thebravoinvestigator ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The new pod: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@allyouneedisyoupod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Bravo Investigator Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Bravo Investigator⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support this show and connect on socials at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @jana.firestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janafirestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube for FULL interviews: @poptherapypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.janafirestone.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to leave a rating and review on both pods!

    1hr 12min

  2. 5 days ago

    Tom Sandoval's Abuse Allegations & RHORI Reunion Chaos

    Tom Sandoval is back in the headlines, and this time it's serious. Dana, The Bravo Investigator, joins me to unpack the breaking allegations involving Tom and Victoria Lee Robinson, what we know so far, and the questions still hanging in the air. Then we're into Part 1 of the Real Housewives of Rhode Island reunion. We break down Rulla's wild intensity, Jo-Ellen's reunion performance, Liz's fragile ego, the battle for public perception and our biggest takeaways from a fiery first instalment. You can find Dana at: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thebravoinvestigator ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The new pod: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@allyouneedisyoupod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Bravo Investigator Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Bravo Investigator⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support this show and connect on socials at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @jana.firestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janafirestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube for FULL interviews: @poptherapypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.janafirestone.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to leave a rating and review on both pods!

    36 min

  3. 19 June

    Love Island USA: Big Beds, Bombshells & Bad Decisions with Dani Gossip Girl (The Villa Download)

    Help! I've fallen headfirst into the Love Island rabbit hole - and desperately needed an expert translator. Danielle Peterson (Dani Gossip Girl) from The Villa Download joins me to break down the history of Love Island, the psychology behind the villa, the strategy, the gameplay, and why this season feels suspiciously close to softcore p*rn! We unpack the coupling, recoupling, bombshells, manipulation, genuine connections and the secrets longtime viewers know - that Love Island newbies don't. Plus, Danielle reveals what's still to come this season, and let's just say... I was not prepared. If you're obsessed with Love Island USA, curious about the hype or simply trying to understand why millions of people can't look away, this episode is your ultimate villa survival guide. Follow Dani Gossip Girl and listen to The Villa Download for more Love Island news, gossip and recaps. IG: @danigossipgirl Podcast: The Villa Download Connect with this show: IG: @jana.firestone YouTube: The Pop Therapy Podcast www.janafirestone.com Subscribe, rate and review Pop Therapy wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you to the brilliant Sam Talbot who turned this episode around faster than I could say boo! You can work with him too! Head to www.samtalbot.com.au

    1hr 8min

  4. 16 June

    Sincere is Macking, Brian is Tracking and West is Sent Packing

    West is out, Brian is still acting up, and Jana has officially entered her Love Island era. This week, we unpack the news that West Wilson won't be returning to Summer House and ask the question nobody seems willing to answer: what exactly were West and Amanda bringing to the show by the end? Between the dead energy, dodged conversations and carefully curated non-answers, was it time for a cast shake-up? Then it's over to the uncomfortable RHORI finale, where Brian somehow manages to make things worse by confirming the affair to Gary and then being arrested for tracking Rulla's movements... and still showing up to film!? The audacity. The complete lack of self-preservation. We break down the finale, the unanswered questions, and what could be one very messy reunion. And finally, Jana ventures into virgin territory: Love Island. We talk fast-tracked relationships, questionable intentions, couples we're rooting for, couples we're side-eyeing, and why this season feels like it's toeing the line between dating show and soft-core television. Fake sincerity, real tracking, and one very unexpected Love Island obsession. You can find Dana at: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thebravoinvestigator ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The new pod: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@allyouneedisyoupod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Bravo Investigator Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Bravo Investigator⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support this show and connect on socials at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @jana.firestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janafirestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube for FULL interviews: @poptherapypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.janafirestone.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to leave a rating and review on both pods!

    1hr 10min

  5. 9 June

    Don't Come For Crappens and Gas Station Sushi

    This week, Dana Regan, The Bravo Investigator and I are diving into a heated Bravo content creator debate, with a mental health message. Below Deck Down Under alum Eddy Hounsell called out Ben and Ronnie from Watch What Crappens with many words to say about their comments about men's appearances. We unpack the tricky line between commentary and criticism. When reality stars sign up for public scrutiny, what comes with the territory? And where, if anywhere, should creators draw the line? Then it's over to Rhode Island, where absolutely nobody is keeping calm. Liz is still blazing a trail (and taking menopause to the lawmakers), Cheating Brian with no leg to stand on, delivers a nasty "gas station sushi" comparison, and the feuds keep multiplying. Liz vs Alicia, Liz vs Jo-Ellen, Rosie vs Kelsey... at this point, it's easier to list who's not fighting. Real Housewives. Real relationships. Real grudges. And one very unfortunate sushi analogy. Watch now on YouTube and connect with us below: You can find Dana at: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thebravoinvestigator ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The new pod: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@allyouneedisyoupod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Bravo Investigator Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Bravo Investigator⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support this show and connect on socials at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @jana.firestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janafirestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube for FULL interviews: @poptherapypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.janafirestone.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to leave a rating and review on both pods!

    51 min

  6. 5 June

    The Summer House Questions We're Still Asking and RHORI Recap

    Dana Regan, The Bravo Investigator is back for our weekly recap, and this week we unpack all the questions we still have from the Summer House Reunion - from the sneaky looks and suspect behaviour to what has still not been addressed from the Summer House season. I give some context on Ben Waddell from an Australian perspective, and why his tone may not be landing with international viewers. Then we launch into our RHORI recap, where we ask - is it menopause or childhood trauma that's causing Liz to lash out like this? When the reaction is this big, it's rarely about the issue itself. So why is the "homeless" situation striking such a nerve? Watch in full on YouTube or listen now! You can find Dana at: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thebravoinvestigator ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The new pod: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@allyouneedisyoupod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Bravo Investigator Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Bravo Investigator⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support this show and connect on socials at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @jana.firestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janafirestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube for FULL interviews: @poptherapypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.janafirestone.com⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to leave a rating and review on both pods!

    51 min

  7. 26 May

    Summer House Reunion Clip Shockers, Amanda's 117k Rent Bill and RHORI Eps 8+9 Recap with The Bravo Investigator

    We are back after a week's respite due to illness, but that didn't stop us endlessly consuming all things Bravo and pop culture this week! We launch right into the Summer House reunion clips, break down Amanda and West's apparent lack of empathy or understanding of the trail of destruction they have left in their wake. It's a Summer House/In The City mashup where we try to get inside the minds of these people we love to watch. Then we jump straight into Slam Pig territory, recapping episodes 8 and 9 of RHORI. From mistress allegations, to mob links and misinterpretations, a poster board business proposal and relationships on fire - we mention it all! You can find Dana at: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thebravoinvestigator ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The new pod: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@allyouneedisyoupod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Bravo Investigator Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Bravo Investigator⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support this show and connect on socials at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @jana.firestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janafirestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube for FULL interviews: @poptherapypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.janafirestone.com⁠⁠ Don't forget to leave a rating and review on both pods!

    1hr 12min

  8. 15 May

    Reinvention, Risk & Running Towards the Dream with Lola Berry

    Today on Pop Therapy, I’m joined by my friend, the endlessly multi-hyphenate Lola Berry - actor, author, podcaster, wellness advocate and one of Australia’s most recognisable media personalities. You might know Lola from her hugely successful podcast Fearlessly Failing, her ELEVEN books, or her vibrant career in health and wellness… but lately, she’s been documenting a whole new chapter: chasing an acting career in LA. From audition highs and confidence crashes to navigating the unpredictability of Hollywood, Lola shares the reality of starting again - publicly, vulnerably and honestly. We talk about ambition, reinvention, failure, purpose, burnout, identity, creativity and why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is follow the thing that scares you. This is a conversation about backing yourself before you feel ready… and what happens when you stop waiting for permission to go after the life you actually want. You can find Lola on IG at @yummololaberry or via her website: www.lolaberry.com Support this show and connect on socials at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: @jana.firestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@janafirestone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube for FULL interviews: @poptherapypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.janafirestone.com⁠⁠ Thank you to Sam Talbot for his audio engineering wizardry. You can work with him too! Head to www.samtalbot.com.au

    1hr 9min
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5
out of 5
53 Ratings

About

Pop Therapy (formerly The Curious Life Podcast) is where therapist, bestselling author and unapologetic pop-culture obsessive Jana Firestone dissects the worlds we binge. From Bravo scandals, celebrity culture to streaming sensations and the fandoms that fuel them. With a clinical lens and a die-hard viewer’s heart, Jana unpacks the psychology of conflict, fame, friendship fractures, redemption arcs and the storylines we can’t stop analysing, alongside candid conversations with the people living inside the pop-culture machine. Smart, incisive and highly entertaining.

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